Water sampler for deep submergence vehicles



Oct. '6, 1979 c, L. BARKER 3,531,995

WATER SAMPLER FOR DEEP SUBMERGENCE VEHICLES Filed. March 20, 1969 I A a...

INVENTOR. CHARLES L. BARKER BY 27: 4% XQMW/ v .4 TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,531,995 WATER SAMPLER FOR DEEP SUBMERGENCE VEHICLES Charles L. Barker, 4328 Del Mar St., San Diego, Calif. 92107 Filed Mar. 20, 1969, Ser. No. 808,736 Int. Cl. G011: 1/10 US. Cl. 73-425.4 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A piston rod just the length of a cylinder can slide end- Wise along the axis of the cylinder. At a selected depth, disks at opposite ends of the rod are moved into the cylinder for first, expelling the contents of the cylinder and second, for immediately closing the ends of the cylinder to trap a fresh uncontaminated sample of water.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As the science of oceanography progresses, water samples must be obtained at progressively greater depths and the samples obtained must be of sufiicient volume and free of contamination to reliably represent the water composition at the desired depth. The mechanism must not be damaged at extreme depths and must not leak as the pressure changes. Available samples leave much to be desired in many of these respects.

One embodiment of the liquid sampler of this invention is described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partly sectioned, view of the sampler of this invention with the trigger mechanism thereof fully cocked;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sampler of FIG. 1 after the trigger mechanism has been released; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the trigger mechanism of the sampler of FIG. 1.

The sampler shown in FIG. 1 comprises the cylinder 10, axially aligned with the piston rod 12, which rod is of the same length as the cylinder. At the ends of the rod 12 are affixed the piston discs 14 and 16.

The discs are machined to a diameter to slip easily into the cylinder. O-rings 15 and 17, respectively, in the periphery of the discs are selected to make a sliding watertight fit with the interior of the cylinder.

The rod and piston assembly is shown in cocked position in FIG. 1 and is held in that position by the trigger mechanism 18. The trigger mechanism holds the assembly in this position against the relatively strong tension of the elastic member 20. A spring or good quality rubber or latex may be employed for the elastic member.

When the sampler is first lowered into the water, the entire mechanism is flooded. This means that the mechanism can be lowered to any depth without damage to any part. When the desired depth for sampling is reached, the trigger mechanism is remotely operated to release the piston assembly. The assembly is drawn or snapped into the cylinder as shown in FIG. 2. Any water riding inside the ice cylinder from the other depths is expelled by the piston 17 through the large holes 27 in header 26, the piston being followed by water of the desired depth. The desired water is then trapped inside the cylinder by the piston 14 which now seals the upper end of the cylinder.

An important feature of the sampler of this invention comprises the framework for holding and properly aligning the cylinder, rod, and piston. Upper header 24 and lowor header 26 are joined by several spaced parallel rods 22. The lower end of the rods are relieved to receive the wall of the cylinder 10 so that one edge of each rod is in substantial alignment with the interior surface of the cylinder. The rods thus serve as a ways for supporting and guiding the pistons 14 from their cocked position of FIG. 1 to their fully loaded position in FIG. 2.

The particular trigger mechanism shown in the illustrated embodiment comprises a fusable wire for lashing the movable piston disc 14 to the header 24. Specifically, in FIG. 3, the fusable wire 30 with knotted ends is passed through the key hole opening of Teflon block and intermediate loops of the wire is caught in the hooks milled in the metal blocks 18a and 18b. Terminal lugs for the metal blocks 18a and 18b pass upwardly through the header 24 and are connected to an electrical cable threaded through the support chain for the sampler. Hence, the operator at the remote station, aboard ship, can at will burn out the fusable wire.

There is a considerable tension on the piston and when the wire 30' is fused, the wire runs through its threaded openings and permits the piston to descend.

The trapped sample of liquid is later removed through the drainage cock 35. i

To reuse the assembler, the tension on spring 20 is released by withdrawing the slide 36 from under the bolt head 37. A new piece of wire 30 is then threaded through the blocks 18a, 18b, and 18c, and a hooking tool is employed to reach through the end opening of the cylinder in header 26 to engage the head 37 which may then be pulled into position for latching with slide 36.

The spring-pressed ball 38 of a check valve is provided for permitting escape of high pressure liquid in the chamber. High differential pressures can, of course, be expected when, after a sample is trapped at a great depth, the sampler is brought to the surface.

What is claimed is:

1. A water sampler comprising:

a right circular cylinder,

a tubular piston rod substantially of the length of said cylinder reciprocable centrally in said cylinder,

a piston on each end of said rod adapted to seal said cylinder,

spaced parallel ways joined to and extending beyond one end of said cylinder for slidably guiding said piston and rod assembly along the center of said cylinder,

an elastic member extending lengthwise through said tubular rod, tensioned between remote ends of the cylinder and rod to close the cylinder, and

latch means to hold the piston assembly open.

2. The water sampler defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a header across one end of said cylinder,

a second header outboard from the other end of said cylinder and connected to the end of said ways, and

a fusible wire for latching said outboard header to one 4 piston outboard from said cylinder, and circuit means References Cited for supplying burning electric current to said Wire. UNITED STATES PATENTS The water sample defined in claim further 2,298,627 10/1942 Proudman et al 73 42s.4 Pnsmg 3,266,323 8/1966 Buchanan et a1 73-4254 8. hadel QCI'OSS one end Of 531d cylinder, 5 3,276,266 10/1966 Auer 73 425 4 a S0Ond header outboard from the other end of Said 3 3 1 9 19 7 Richard 73 425 4 cylinder and connected to the ends of said ways,

the inner surfaces of said ways lying in a circle sub- LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner stantially in alignment with the interior surface of H C POST HI Assistant Examiner said cylinder. 10 

